Nebraska Farm Bureau Announces New Leadership Appointments Across Key Committees

KEARNEY, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) has welcomed a new slate of farmer and rancher volunteers to serve on key committees that help guide the organization’s leadership development, consumer engagement, and grassroots advocacy efforts. These committees play a vital role in strengthening Nebraska agriculture, and the newly appointed members will contribute their experience, passion, and diverse perspectives to advance Farm Bureau’s mission.

Six members were appointed by the NEFB Board of Directors to the Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee. The committee provides vital feedback to the NEFB Board of Directors, helping shape the statewide YF&R Program and cultivate future Farm Bureau leadership.

New Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee representatives are:

Sheridan Swotek of Buffalo County will represent the Central Region. Swotek is in her sixth year of teaching agriculture and advising the Kearney FFA Chapter and is the fifth-generation of her family’s ranch in Sheridan County.

Parker Jessen of Morrill County will represent the Northwest Region. Jessen is a fourth-generation farmer in Western Nebraska with a diversified crop operation and cattle.

Taylor Nielsen of Lancaster County will represent the Southeast Region. Nielsen grew up on a fourth-generation, dryland row crop farm. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Leadership Education.

Addy Donelson of Platte County will serve as the Student-At-Large representative. Donelson grew up on her family's cow/calf operation. She is currently a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is majoring in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications with minors in Public Policy and Agricultural Leadership.  

Trey Stewart of Cuming County will serve as the Student-At-Large representative. Stewart grew up on his family’s row crop and livestock farm and runs a poultry and pork entrepreneurship business. He is attending Northeast Community College, majoring in agribusiness with a double minor in animal science and animal nutrition.  

Grant Jones of Chase County will serve in a new capacity as the Chair of the YF&R Committee while also representing the Southwest Region. Jones has a has a cow/calf, row crop, and shrimp operation.

The NEFB Promotion and Engagement Committee, formerly known as the Promotion and Education Committee, also welcomed new members following the adoption of its updated name. The change reflects a strengthened focus on engaging consumers of all ages and fostering a positive public perception of agriculture. Four new volunteers were appointed to the committee.

New Promotion and Engagement Committee representatives are:

Joan Ruskamp of Colfax County will serve in a new role as the Metro At-Large representative. Ruskamp and her family run a feedlot, which has been in the family for more than 100 years.

Jordan Classen of Platte County will serve at the Central Region representative. Classen has a Black Angus operation that supplies beef for their direct-to-consumer business, Classen Mercantile.

Jaylynn Ravenscroft of Cherry County will serve as the North Central Region representative. Ravenscroft is a fifth-generation cow/calf and Red Angus seedstock producer.

Karen Grant of Madison County will serve as chair of the Promotion and Engagement Committee for the 2026 calendar year. Grant owns a farrow-to-finish pig farm and grows corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.  

“Nebraska Farm Bureau is driven by members who step forward to lead,” said Mark McHargue, president of Nebraska Farm Bureau. “We are incredibly grateful to these volunteers for giving their time, insight, and commitment to agriculture. Their voices and experiences help shape our programs, strengthen our advocacy, and ensure we continue telling the positive story of Nebraska agriculture. I am excited to see the impact they will make in the year ahead as we work together to promote agriculture and support farm and ranch families.”

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. Nearly 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit www.nefb.org.